MADERA - The graduates of Madera High School's 117th class walked two by two into their future during one of the longest playing of the "Pomp and Circumstance March" ever. At times it almost seemed as if no one was moving but once all the graduates actually took their seats the evening progressed smoothly. That is until there was a distraction for MHS Principal Kent Albertson, like a beach ball.

With temperatures starting to rise before the ceremony, a nice breeze kicked in as parents came prepared to the outdoor graduation at Madera High's Memorial Stadium with bottles of drinking water. However at Albertson's direction, Madera Unified Security confiscated everyone's water at the gate. Yet the school did provided bottles of water free of charge to Madera Unified board members and district employees. Of course bottled water was for sale to parents and visitors in the snack bar, at Kent Albertson's instruction.

Before the students entered the stadium for their graduation, local law enforcement conducted a pat-down search of each graduate for illegal contraband like beach balls, cell phones or cameras. However a few beach balls did get through and when district employees snatched them from the air the capacity crowd loudly booed. Unlike the graduation the night before for Alternative Education, there have been no reports of a shooting following the cerimonies.

After graduation, students made their way back to the campus for the California Highway Patrol's Sober Graduation for dancing, casino games and prizes. For the fifth year in a row, no car was given away at the end of the night and only a handful of students stayed for the duration of the party.

This was also MHS Principal Kent Albertson's last at Madera High. Tuesday evening the Madera Unified Board of Trustees will promote Albertson to the position of district human resource director.